A lawsuit filed by minority investors in Philadelphia’s SugarHouse seeking an injunction against the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board preventing a second casino license in the city has been dismissed by a Commonwealth Court judge.
The lawsuit, in which majority owners of SugarHouse did not participate, alleged that a second Philadelphia casino would hurt SugarHouse business and saturate the Northeast market. In dismissing the suite, the judge agreed with the gaming board’s position that the 2004 casino law gave sole responsibility to the board for approving licenses, and that the law clearly envisioned licenses for 14 casinos.
“Having all authorized casinos built and operating as contemplated by the General Assembly will create employment opportunities, spur economic development and provide new sources of tax revenues for the commonwealth and the city,” said R. Douglas Sherman, chief counsel to the gaming board, after the decision, according to the Associated Press. “Not seeking to issue the license would undermine those goals and be counter to the clear legislative intent which the board is bound to fulfill.”
The minority partners say they are contemplating an appeal to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
